256 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



fish partook of the same colour. I sent thirty-five 

 brace of these fish, all similar in size, a considerable 

 distance lower down the stream, when they were put 

 under a bridge near my house. Many of them died. 

 But in three hours after the removal I caught eight of 

 the others with a fly without moving from the spot : 

 neither the size nor the colour of the fish could possibly 

 be mistaken. 



THE BURNING. 



" Charlie Charlie," cried Thomas Jamieson, " there's 

 fine sport going on the nicht ; our maister's minded to 

 burn the water, for she is low enough, ye ken ; so ane 

 o' us will hae to gang and split the twa auld tar barrels 

 for lichts, an' the ither mun slidder up to Abbotsford 

 and tell your uncle Tarn what's ganging forrat, and say 

 that he has to meet us at the Carrywheel at eight 

 o'clock preceesely. Charlie, ye'd best do the lichts 

 yoursel', and I'll hae to win to Darnick, and get the 

 wasters a' new sharpened. Sandy and Rob will come 

 nae doot, and we should hae auld Wat too ; but if he 

 has been fou yestreen, he'll no be worth a bawbee." 



" Ye needna fash yoursel' aboot the like o' him, for 

 he had a wee drap. I saw him this mornin' riddling a cart 

 f u' o' sand lyin' again the house end, which he said he 

 was making ready for biggin ; and as I was coming 

 awa' auld Janet gied me a wag wi' her finger, and I juist 

 steppit in. ' What do ye think ?' says she ; ' the auld 

 vagabun was fou yestreen, and he gaed out as he thought 

 unseen by ony ; I watched him, and he hid his siller 

 amang the sand, for he aye thinks I graip his pouches 



